By Stefan Acevski/ info@eurohoops.net
Following two months of basketball, the Round of 16 in the Basketball Champions League has concluded.
The sixth-round games ended this phase, revealing the names of all the teams still competing for the title. Five teams were already known before this round – Unicaja, Juventut, ALBA, AEK, and Tenerife, while the last three were determined this Tuesday and Wednesday. Joining them in the Quarter-Final are Rytas, Galatasaray, and Nymburk.
Draw to Decide Quarterfinals Matchups
According to the competition rules, the Quarterfinals matchups will be determined only after the draw. The rules are clear – the four group winners are seeded and will have home-court advantage, meaning they will play the first and potential third game of the Quarterfinals at home. On the other hand, the four second-placed teams are unseeded. Additionally, teams that were in the same group cannot meet in the Quarterfinals.
Seeded teams: Rytas, AEK, Unicaja, Tenerife
Unseeded teams: Galatasaray, ALBA, Juventut, Nymburk
Nymburk shock Gran Canaria and advance
On Tuesday, the first four matches were played, revealing the sixth participant in the next phase. It all started in Malaga, where Unicaja defeated Joventut in the Spanish derby (86-74), overtaking them on the standings and securing home-court advantage.
Wurzburg won a result-irrelevant match against Chalon (84-81), and Trieste did the same against Tenerife (82-76). The most drama was seen in Spain, where in a direct duel for advancement, Nymburk defeated Gran Canaria (92-82), ensuring their progression while simultaneously eliminating the team from the Canary Islands.
Drama in Group I
The Round of 16 concluded with games in Groups I and J. The situation in Group J was much simpler, and in the end, AEK secured the top position and the status of the only undefeated team this round by winning away against ALBA (93-88). Alongside them, AS Karditsa also celebrated, defeating Tofas in their farewell (98-90).
As for Group I, Rytas and Galatasaray advanced in the end. Le Mans did what they had to, defeating Hapoel Holon at home (102-92), but they were eliminated despite a 4-2 record. Rytas is to blame for this, as they defeated Galatasaray away and secured the top position for themselves (90-81). All three teams had a 4-2 record, but the French were eliminated due to an inferior point difference.
Round of 16 Week 6
Group I
Galatasaray MCT Technic – Rytas 81-90
Le Mans – Hapoel Netanel Holon 102-92
Standings
1. x-Rytas 10 (4-2)
2. x-Galatasaray MCT Technic 10 (4-2)
3. o-Le Mans 10 (4-2)
4. o-Hapoel Netanel Holon 6 (0-6)
Group J
Tofas – Karditsa Iaponiki 90-98
ALBA Berlin – AEK 88-93
Standings
1. x-AEK 12 (6-0)
2. x-ALBA Berlin 10 (4-2)
3. o-Tofas 7 (1-5)
4. o-Karditsa Iaponiki 7 (1-5)
Group K
Fitness First Wurzburg – Elan Chalon 84-81
Unicaja – Asisa Joventut 86-74
Standings
1. x-Unicaja 10 (4-2)
2. x-Asisa Joventut 10 (4-2)
3. o-Elan Chalon 8 (2-4)
4. o-Fitness First Wurzburg 8 (2-4)
Group L
Trieste – La Laguna Tenerife 82-76
Dreamland Gran Canaria – ERA Nymburk 82-92
Standings
1. x-La Laguna Tenerife 10 (4-2)
2. ERA Nymburk 9 (3-3)
3. Dreamland Gran Canaria 9 (3-3)
4. o-Trieste 8 (2-4)
-Top two seeds from each group clinch a berth in the Quarterfinals
x-clinched quarterfinal berth
o-eliminated